Absorbent article having a graphic visible through body contacting surface

Abstract

An absorbent article for feminine hygiene, comprising: a body contacting layer; a garment contacting layer; and an absorbent core disposed between the body contacting layer and the garment contacting layer. The absorbent core has a core edge. The core edge defines a core region within the core edge and an outer region outside the core region. The body contacting layer and the garment contacting layer extend outward into the outer region and joined together in the outer region. The garment contacting layer may have a graphic printed on the body facing surface or the body contacting layer may have a graphic printed on the garment facing surface. The body contacting layer has a first light transmittance so that the graphic can be seen through the body contacting layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An absorbent article, comprising:
 a. a body contacting layer comprising an apertured formed film having opposing longitudinal side edges; 
 b. a garment contacting layer; 
 c. an absorbent core disposed between the body contacting layer and the garment contacting layer; 
 d. a pair of flaps extending laterally outwardly from the article, the pair of flaps being formed from a portion of the garment contacting layer and a nonwoven material that overlays the longitudinal side edges of the body contacting layer and that extends to an edge of the flaps; 
 e. a plurality of graphic elements disposed on the garment contacting layer; 
 f. wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are truncated at a periphery of the garment contacting layer and wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are visible through the nonwoven material forming part of the flaps. 
 
     
     
       2. The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of graphic elements comprise at least two colors. 
     
     
       3. The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are visible through the apertured formed film. 
     
     
       4. The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are visible through a body contacting surface of the absorbent article. 
     
     
       5. The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the body contacting layer comprises a number of discrete fusion bonds that collectively form an arcuate pattern. 
     
     
       6. The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven material comprises bi-component fibers. 
     
     
       7. The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven material comprises a spunbonded web. 
     
     
       8. The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of graphic elements are disposed on a body facing surface of the garment contacting layer. 
     
     
       9. The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of graphic elements are visible through the garment contacting layer. 
     
     
       10. The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the body contacting layer has a first light transmittance and the garment contact layer has a second light transmittance, and wherein the difference between them is less than 70%. 
     
     
       11. The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the difference between the first light transmittance and the second light transmittance is less than 50%. 
     
     
       12. The absorbent article of  claim 10 , wherein the difference between the first light transmittance and the second light transmittance is less than 10%. 
     
     
       13. An absorbent article, comprising:
 a. a body contacting layer; 
 b. a garment contacting layer; 
 c. an absorbent core disposed between the body contacting layer and the garment contacting layer; 
 d. a pair of flaps extending laterally outwardly from the article, the pair of flaps being formed from a portion of the garment contacting layer and a nonwoven material that overlays the longitudinal side edges of the body contacting layer and that extends to an edge of the flaps; 
 e. a plurality of graphic elements disposed on the garment contacting layer; 
 f. wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are visible through a body contacting surface of the absorbent article; and 
 g. wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are truncated at a periphery of the garment contacting layer and wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are visible through the nonwoven material forming part of the flaps. 
 
     
     
       14. The absorbent article of  claim 13 , wherein the body contacting layer comprises an apertured formed film. 
     
     
       15. The absorbent article of  claim 13 , wherein the body contacting layer comprises a nonwoven web. 
     
     
       16. The absorbent article of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of graphic elements comprise at least two colors. 
     
     
       17. The absorbent article of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of graphic elements are disposed on a body facing surface of the garment contacting layer. 
     
     
       18. The absorbent article of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of graphic elements are visible through the garment contacting layer. 
     
     
       19. An absorbent article, comprising:
 a. a body contacting layer; 
 b. a garment contacting layer; 
 c. an absorbent core disposed between the body contacting layer and the garment contacting layer; 
 d. an article circumferential edge that extends beyond an outer edge of the absorbent core; 
 e. a pair of flaps extending laterally outwardly from the article, the pair of flaps being formed from a portion of the garment contacting layer and a nonwoven material that overlays the longitudinal side edges of the body contacting layer and that extends to an edge of the flaps; 
 f. a plurality of graphic elements disposed on the garment contacting layer; 
 g. wherein when viewing the body contacting layer, some of the plurality of graphic elements are truncated at the outer edge of the absorbent core due to the absorbent core overlaying the same; and 
 h. wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are truncated at the article circumferential edge and wherein some of the plurality of graphic elements are visible through the nonwoven material forming part of the flaps.